Winter2020

The “Lure” of Being a Mentor What was your first experience on Pennsylvania waters? Was it:

• A hike along one of Pennsylvania’s 85,000 miles of streams and rivers?

• A canoe trip on one of Pennsylvania’s 4,000 inland lakes?

• Hearing frogs sing after a summer rain?

• Catching your first fish?• Feeling pride while planting trees

along a streambank?Behind each experience is the reflection

of your mentors. Mentors help you learn and guide you through each experience. Some examples of famous mentors are: Yoda (Star Wars), Mufasa (Lion King), Mary Poppins and Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter). The people who are helped by mentors are called apprentices.

Vocabulary (Watch for these words!)• Apprentices - beginners being

guided by mentors• Mentors - people who provide

advice, guidance or inspiration to another person

Fishing and boating mentors introduce others to the importance of conservation.

Being a mentor does not require you to be older, wiser or have years of experience. This PLAY issue introduces you to mentoring.

Becoming a mentor provides an opportunity to:

• Help others connect to Pennsylvania waters through activities

• Reflect and share experiences and skills

• Learn something new• Share the responsibility of

aquatic resource protection and enhancement

• Make a difference and have fun doing it

• Observant - quick to notice things• Protege - a person supported by

a more experienced person• Encourage - give support

to someone

45 www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2020

46 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2020 www.gonefishingpa.com

WHO Can Be a Mentor? YOU Can!

What Does a Mentor Look Like? You can be a mentor. Share your interest

in fishing with your friends by being their mentor. You can even mentor an adult by introducing a non-fishing family member to the sport.

Why are young people good mentors?

• Young people are spontaneous and curious, notice what is happening now and want to learn more.

You have a lot to offer, just by being you. Whether you take someone:

• Hiking to a waterfall• Exploring for amphibians

and reptiles• Planting trees • Paddling

or fishing

Look at the frog hopping across the trail. What kind of frog is it? Where does it live?

Who you are, where you live and your interests shape your experiences on Pennsylvania waters.

Your experiences and skills can help others connect to

Pennsylvania’s waters.

• Young people may see mistakes as opportunities. He or she learns by doing, even if something does not work out.

• Kids may be more observant and notice details missed by adults.

• Young people use their imagination and creativity and sometimes find a better way.

• Kids like to play. Kids remind adults that the journey is just as fun as getting to the destination.

47 www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2020

Mentors of All Ages

Young anglers can mentor other young anglers or non-anglers. When your friends see you doing something, they feel more confident.

Young mentors also like to have fun and be with friends, learning together. When the mentor and apprentice are young, they know it is more about becoming an angler than about learning to catch fish.

• Observing new things about an activity the mentor is teaching.

• Reconnecting with “Why”- Reigniting the reasons a mentor participates in an activity.

• Curiosity - Asking a lot of questions. Some questions deepen a mentor’s interest, while other questions teach mentor’s new ways of teaching.

Beginners Can Mentor Experienced Mentors by:

Ask Questions Make sure you understand

what your student or apprentice wants from his or her experience

on Pennsylvania waters. Their idea of success may be different than yours.• Mentor’s idea of success—

“catch a fish.” Example: “Let’s get to the stream before the fish stop rising.”

• Protege’s idea of success—“the journey.” Example: “Check out the box turtle crossing the trail.”

Share Safety Importance Share the

importance of safety and gear needed for a safe experience. Review safe fishing, boating and conservation practices.

Provide EncouragementStay positive. Mistakes are

opportunities to learn more about the activity and yourself.

Build ExcitementInvolve new participants with planning and preparation. Be prepared for weather and other expectations. Decide where you want to fish and what you want to catch. Together you can research regulations and fishing equipment.

Have an Activity PlanHelp create an activity plan to

share with family or friends.

TYPE OF ACTIVITY:

LOCATION OF ACTIVITY:

NAME OF OTHERS PARTICIPATING:

TIME OF DEPARTURE:

TIME OF EXPECTED RETURN:

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION:

ACTIVITY PLAN

Mentor NotesThis page includes some ideas to help mentors

plan an experience on Pennsylvania waters.

Inspire ConservationEncourage and model

good conservation practices.

Share ways to get involved.

Instill the importance of

regulations that protect

waterways and animals.

49 www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2020

Mentor Pathways—Where Do You Start? With a variety of backgrounds and experiences, people mentor in

different ways.

• Invite someone to plant trees, fish or boat with you.

• Encourage attendance at learn to fish programs. State, county and local parks offer these programs. Visit the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission’s (PFBC’s) website at www.fishandboat.com, and view the events calendar or have an adult follow PFBC on Facebook.

• For more information about events at state parks and forests, visit Pennsylvania Department of Natural Resources’s website at https://events.dcnr.pa.gov.

You Can Mentor Others By Getting Out There!

50 Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2020 www.gonefishingpa.com

Take ActionConnect to Pennsylvania waters. Join PFBC and partners to

protect, conserve and enhance aquatic resources. Here are a few activities to get started.

Purchase a Fishing License Fishing license purchases help support

Pennsylvania’s aquatic resources. Your fishing license also helps PFBC provide the following services:

• Public access areas• Maintenance and

management of access areas

• Waterway and dam improvements • Fish habitat enhancement projects • Amphibian and reptile (herp) and fish

studies and management• Aquatic resource protection and

regulation• Education programs and instructor

training

Conservation Projects Connect with local organizations assisting PFBC

with habitat or tree planting projects such as:• County Conservation Districts• Other State Agencies• Trout Unlimited Chapters• Watershed Associations• Sportsmen Organizations• Conservancies

A diverse population of

herps live in Pennsylvania. While looking for amphibians and reptiles, explore Pennsylvania’s waterways.

• Pennsylvania Amphibian and Reptile Survey (PARS) – Photograph and report what you find. Learn more at: https://paherpsurvey.org/.

• Visit www.fishandboat.com for PFBC’s amphibian and reptile page.

Get Started with Fishing Connect to Pennsylvania waters by fishing.

Below are resources to get you started.• Visit PFBC’s “Fishing Fundamentals”

page at www.fishandboat.com for

equipment basics, tackle loaner program, where to fish and more.

• Visit www.takemefishing.org for fishing tips, blogs and more.

How

Take a Hike and Discover Pennsylvania Herps

51 www.fishandboat.com Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • January/February 2020

Mentor Circle—First Steps Begin with You!

Produced by: the Bureau of Outreach, Education & Marketing

Written by: Amidea Daniel Editor: Spring Gearhart

Design and illustrations: Andrea Feeney Photos: Amidea Daniel and

PFBC archives © Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission

Help guide the angler to the center of the maze and collect the items she needs to go fishing.

TAKE ME FISHING COUPON

Cut out this coupon, and use it to invite family and friends fishing.

Date: Time:Location:Types of fish:

Equipment needed:

Start

Items to collect:Pennsylvania Fishing SummaryFishing hatSunglassesFishing lureFishing rod Net

12345

1 2

4

56

6

3